Although the original deadline for the Fukuoka Ruby Award 2011 Competition expired yesterday, its organizers have decided to accept late entries from the U.S. up until 30th November.

This news appears only on the English language page of the Ruby language website which also lets slip that the decision for the extension is because the competition, run by the Fukuoka Ruby Business Hub Promotion Committee, has so far only attracted 10 entries - which gives late entrants a good chance of scooping the million yen ($12,000) grand prize.

The lack of non-Japanese entries may have something to do with the paucity of concrete information about what is required. The original press release from 25th August refers to:

"innovative system and new business model superior activities that used Ruby"

while the guidelines state:

Eligible entries are the system, business models, or activity utilizing the features of Ruby, with development completed within the past 1 year.

Often the best way to decide what is required is to look at past winners, and while this page is in Japanese with the help of online translation tools you may get some pointers.

Inventor and creator of Ruby, Matz, is the competition's judge - so go on and give him more source code to test and review.

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